Ask AI

All Questions

1,411
1

What is Exhibit A in a SAFE Agreement and Can I Indicate Myself Instead of a Fund Entity?

Topic: SAFE agreement/ Allocation () Hi All. I'm talking to a couple of startups about their openness in saving a position in their upcoming round for my fund... However 2 questions come to mind -- 1) What is Exhibit A here in the document? 2) Does this mean I need to have the fund entity established (not yet existing today) or could I indicate myself in place of the entity? Thanks for the guidance!

Top answer:

This is basically an LOI developed by one of our Alumni who will join us on Wednesday’s webinar. 1. The SAFE that you can find online 2. No. But you will need to be pretty close to closing to use this strategy…

 -  Mike Suprovici
1
0

How to Implement Warehousing Deals with Markup at Cost without Gifting Profits to LPs?

On warehousing deals with markup. I heard on the last AMA that it is advisable to bring the marked up deals to the fund at cost. I'm trying to understand how to make it work. Let's say I have invested $20k into a company last year and now it's worth $60k. If I put this in the fund at cost does it mean that I am gifting 80% of $40k to the LPs right away?

Top answer:

yes it does

 -  Mike Suprovici
0
0

Can an LP Increase Their Commitment After Signing a PACT or Wiring Initial Capital?

How would it work if an LP wants to up their commitment after they already signed a PACT? or may be after they already wired money for the first capital call?

Top answer:

Yes they can and this is very common. They can sign an LPA for a larger amount on closing. Happens all the time.

 -  Mike Suprovici
0
0

I’m raising a $10 million fund. What’s the maximum check size of the deal that I should warehouse?

I’m raising a $10 million fund. What’s the maximum check size of the deal that I should warehouse?

Top answer:

It depends on your stage, strategy and model. Read this: https://govclab.com/2022/05/05/how-to-build-a-vc-fund-model/

 -  Mike Suprovici
0
0

1. Can Funds Raised Cover Legal and Formation Costs Outside the 2% Management Fee?2. What's the Ideal Allocation Distribution for Pre-Seed Investments with 80% Failure, 10% 1x Return, and 10% 25x Return?

Two quick questions 1. Are we able to use funds raised to pay for lawyers fund formation costs etc as a separate cost not associated with the 2% management fee? 2. What is the right distribution for our allocation/fund economics slides i.e. 80% will fail 10% will return 1x and another 10% giving us a 25x (all preseed investments)?

Top answer:

1. Yes most LPAs have a carve out for formation 2. It really depends on your strategy. Either way you should consider showing 3 scenarios (high, medium, low)

 -  Mike Suprovici
0
0

Can an aspiring fund manager speak as an individual instead of on behalf of a Fund (being raised) at a conference or event?

We are invited to a DEI in tech conference as a speaker and the organizer is asking me to speak as the MP of Axent Ventures about immigrant founders. We read the rules about General Solicitation. Shall we totally avoid pronouncing Axent and speak as “Guc” at the event? (event is backed by the state department)? 

Top answer:

Possibly yes - but be careful. A fund manager should avoid mentioning a fund or thesis until the fund has been fully raised and closed. https://govclab.com/2022/06/28/general-solicitation/

 -  Mike Suprovici
0
0

Is it Appropriate to Use Fun Nicknames for Team Members in a Professional Presentation?

Guys on the Team slide is it ok to use “fun tone” giving members nicknames e.g. “truffle hunter” to who’s in charge of sourcing deals and “booster” to the one in charge of supporting companies and adding value or is it un-professional and you advise against?

Top answer:

This is for LPs, some of whom have investment committees with large institutional representatives on them, which are frequently accountants. I would avoid humor, as your deck will be shared with people like this.

 - 
Community Member
0
0

How Can I Warehouse, Liquidate, or SPV $2mm in Bytedance RSUs That Don't Fit My Pre-Seed Fund Thesis?

Question about warehousing/liquidating/SPVing Bytedance RSUs a non-thesis holding that doesn't fit my pre-seed fund thesis I have about $2mm in Bytedance RSUs (assuming an implied valuation of $300B). Can't be sold on secondary because of restrictions but they can be transferred via 'forward contracts' that do something similar. I would like to either add to fund or liquidate some of those holdings in Bytedance (about $1m). What are my options? Should I offer this as an SPV on my own? Is there a way to collateralize for a loan the Bytedance RSUs (no bank will do it for these afaik)? Or do I just hold these?

Top answer:

I can only give you advice form the perspective of the fund. Based on your explanation above, it will be very difficult/impossible to move into the fund. Also, since it’s off-thesis, it’s likely that it may not help that much in fundrais...

0

Should I Create a Venture Partner Agreement with the Foundation or Mentors Directly for Mentorship Support?

Venture Share – the Venture Partner Agreement; I am cooperating with a foundation that will support us with potential mentors for the companies we invest in. Should I make a Venture Partner Agreement with the foundation or with the mentors directly as individuals? The current framework we are discussing is that the Foundation will compensate the mentors using their funds.

Top answer:

The Venture Share agreement is for individuals, not companies.

 - 
Community Member
0
0

What Type of Equity Kickers are LPs Entitled to in Small Funds: VC or PE Standard Agreements?

Hi all - I sent my thesis to a friend who happens to be an institutional investor. He asked me what type of equity kickers they might be entitled to as an LP. I'm tempted to state that the standard agreement is 2/20 again because its such a small fund I don't think I should be building any complexity into the LPA's. What are your thoughts? I'm not sure if this is a VC thing or it is something more common in PE.

Top answer:

This is a pretty bad outcome. This person is staring out of alignment with wanting special terms before they even committed to investing in you … as if those special terms are going to make that much of a difference. Run away. Reply back...

1

Can I take the full capital commitment from an LP at the first close? What if I expect 10% of the Fund's LPs to come in at the first close? Does that change anything?

If I have an LP commit $100k to the fund can I take the full amount on the first close? Is this related to the percentage of fund's LPs coming into the first close? 

Top answer:

Generally speaking, no - if an LP commits $100K, then on the first close, whatever percentage the capital call is for (typically 20% or 25%) should be wired by the limited partner. For example, an LP that has committed $100K to the fund ...

0

Is a 5-10 MM Fund Size Suitable for Co-Investing 10-15% in Series A Rounds with 50-100 MM Funds?

In my Investment Thesis the typical target is to invest in A round not as a lead but rather as a side investor with a value around 10-15% of the entire round. Am I interpreting the table correctly by giving the fund a size of 5-10 MM (which corresponds exactly to my experience and commitment as a team) that co-invests with Series A funds of 50-100 MM?

Top answer:

Generally, Limited Partners prefer if you lead rounds, as this work justifies the management fees and carry.

 - 
Community Member
0
0

Is There a Recommended 1-Page Fund Summary Template for Prospective LPs or VPs in Cold Reachouts?

Is there any suggested template (or format) for a 1 pager fund summary to send to prospective LPs or VPs instead of the full presentation where the thesis statement would be too little and the full pitch deck would be too much (for those cold reachouts who would not be available to do an in-person pitch at first)? Mike Adeo

Top answer:

Yes. These simplified overview documents take a few iterations to get right. Here is a template: https://fndri.com/383hpyP

 - 
Community Member
0
0

Is it realistic for LPs to invest in part-time GPs managing funds under $15M for pre-seed/seed investments?

Looking at the pre-curriculum in the  there is a table which helps to relate team size to fund size (attached). My question is how likely is it that an LP would be willing to put in an investment into a GP who is doing this part time i.e. what is shown for funds under $15M? Is it realistic to raise a pre-seed/seed fund with only a part-time commitment?

Top answer:

For any fund at $15 MM and under, the fees are not large enough for the General Partner or Partners to make a living. As a result, it is expected that the General Partners are either (a) not full time or (b) working on a second fund. In ...

 - 
Community Member
0 Show more